News

Elevator-Escalator Repairer Apprenticeship Approved

Posted January 2014

On January 16, 2014, the US Department of Labor officially approved the Transportation Learning Center’s proposed transit elevator-escalator apprenticeship program.  Elevator-Escalator thus becomes the third national transit apprenticeship approved by DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship, joining the Bus Maintenance Technician and Rail Car Maintenance Technician programs.

This new apprenticeship program is based on the industry-developed standards for training, and it incorporates the detailed courseware developed by the Consortium for Elevator-Escalator Maintenance Training. 

“This recognition of the elevator-escalator apprenticeship marks a major milestone for the transit industry and for the Transportation Learning Center,” said Joseph Casey, the General Manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).  “Along with recognized apprenticeships for bus maintenance and rail car techs, we’re building a full system of standards-based apprenticeship and training for the transit industry.”

ATU President Larry Hanley concurred that the elevator-escalator apprenticeship marks a significant step forward for the industry.  “ATU has negotiated a number of highly successful local apprenticeship programs that have improved the lives of many workers.  We are always pleased to see that the skills and knowledge of our members gain further recognition and appreciation.  Apprenticeship allows for highly skilled workers to act as mentors and on the job instructors for people entering the craft.  The joint apprenticeship structure guarantees a significant voice for workers in determining training.  The Amalgamated Transit Union will continue to work with transit management nationally and locally to improve training and skills for our members to the benefit of the riding public.”

The labor and management Co-Chairs of the Elevator-Escalator Consortium also hailed DOL’s decision.
Edward LaGuardia of the Michael Baker Corporation, management co-chair and a leader in APTA’s Elevator-Escalator Technical Forum cited the years of work leading to the recognition of the apprenticeship:  “We struggled to agree on a system of training standards, and we decided that was good but not enough.  So we worked with the Center to create the Consortium, and we worked hard to develop a fantastic set of instructional materials.  Getting this stamp of approval from the National Office of Apprenticeship means a lot to the whole transit industry and to the techs we count on to keep vertical transportation running.”

“We need to celebrate this recognition as a great victory,” said Hiram Nix of ATU Local 689, the labor co-chair of the Consortium, “and we need to recognize that we have a lot of work ahead of us.”  Nix, a working El-Es tech who is also co-chair of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee at Washington Metro, noted that making apprenticeship work requires continuing effort.  “Working with Ed LaGuardia and other leaders in the industry is a great experience,” said Nix.  “When we’re sitting around that Consortium table, we’re all committed to getting the job done.  That needs to carry over to training the next generation of technicians.  We’ve got the apprenticeship structure.  We have the classroom material.  We need good mentoring, strong local joint committees and an ongoing commitment that we’re going to train the best technicians in the world.”